The brain is probably the most essential part of the human body, especially considering how it is responsible for the coordination of activities in the body; including the ability to think, feel, move and express, etc. In other words, the brain controls both our voluntary and involuntary actions including respiration, an activity that is undeniably the most needful thing the body must do to survive. Interestingly, despite how vital the brain is to the human body, it is made up of 75% water. This is just one of the many amazing facts about the brain, many of which you probably know. Please read below to be informed to acquaint yourself with the unique attributes of your brain. But before you read on, be informed that the information below may seem very technical to you. But I have tried as much as possible to break down the technical jargon while still maintaining precision. Enjoy please…
THE BRAIN CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE
In Neurology, there is something called the mid-brain dopamine system (MDS) which provides signals to the rest of the brain about the non-occurred events and ultimately bringing about the prediction events. This was discovered through the use of functional MRI. This ability to predict the future which the brain has helps to maintain the mentality level which keeps on updating with the changing environment. It can be said that the predictions made by the brain is a part of smooth consciousness that sometimes comes out to be right due to the conclusions drawn from the recent patterns or the past experiences.
TEENAGE BRAINS ARE NOT FULLY FORMED
The parents who get worried about their teen children should relax because the brains of teenagers are not fully developed. Thus, those stupid teenage dispositions are all as a result of teenagers’ gradual brain development. The gray matter of the brain develops just before puberty and is pushed back to period of adolescence when the massive development changes occur in the frontal lobes which are responsible for decision making.
In a research analysis, it has been shown that the parts of the brain responsible for multi-tasking do not get matured until the age of 17.And while performing any action, teens less likely than adults do not have the feeling of empathy or guilt so they learn it by socializing with others.
THE BRAIN IS MORE ACTIVE WHILE SLEEPING
It is always said that a good night sleep is important for a human being. But only a few people know the main reason behind this fact. Well here is an explanation- during the day brain does lots of activities which need to be remembered. So at night, sleep is the best way to remember all those work done throughout the day as it also helps to stabilize our memories.
MEN USE 10% MORE OF THEIR BRAIN THAN WOMEN
Women’s brains are smaller than men’s. However, the nerve cells and the cortex of women’s brains are larger and better organized and this makes them smarter than men while also allowing them to work more efficiently. The ability think, identify and control emotionally and also the ability to use language skills are more attributed to women than men. Men have more of the ability to perform spatial activities than women. What this means is that the men use only the left side of their brains which is called rational or logical side of the brain to perform their task whereas women use both sides of their brain; meaning that they transfer the vibes to both left and right sides at a faster speed.
BRAIN IS THE MOST ENERGY CONSUMING PART
Since the body weight of a human is 2%, the brain consumes energy of about 20% produced by the body. This is so because brain is responsible for memorizing, sensing etc. so energy is required for all these purposes along with a little amount of oxygen that is required both during sleeping and while being awake. If the required amount of energy is not supplied to the brain or the central nervous system then it may lead to disorders like stroke.
In a research it has been shown that a large amount of energy is correlated with the active signal processing and more of the energy is consumed while doing a mental work.
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT BRAIN SIZES
Scientists have conducted several researches on the different sizes of brain. According these research findings, people who have big heads have larger brains with higher levels of IQ. In other words, people with bigger heads basically tend to be more intelligent than people with smaller heads. So if you have a big head, do not worry; it just goes to show how very intelligent you are.
THE BRAIN FEELS NO PAIN
Pain is something which the brain gives us as a warning signal of something harmful happening to any part of the body. Since the brain itself is not a sensory organ but gives us commands through the sensory organs such as eyes, skin, tongue etc, it doesn’t get to feel pain in itself if something happens to it. To reiterate, the brain lacks pain receptors and that is why it does not feel pain. This explains why Neurosurgeons can perform brain surgeries on patients without sedatives. By the way, “open-brain” surgeries are performed on conscious patients with the intention of ensuring that there are no complications resulting in course of the surgery, including problems with the vision or motor control functions…
I know right now you may be wondering why you feel headache; isn’t headache more like the brain feeling pain? Well no; the pain you feel in your head is as a result of some sensitive structures around the brain. The brain has so many sensitive structures around it.
THERE ARE 100 BILLIONS OF NEURONS IN THE BRAIN
Neurons are the cells within the nervous system that pass on information to other nerve cells or muscles through electrical and chemical signals. Whenever we think, laugh, move or talk, it is because of these signals are running between these neurons along billions of other tiny neurons which create and send large number of messages.
Thus, if a single neuron generates a single amount of electricity, all the other neurons together generates so much amount of electricity that it can power up a light bulb. They send information to brain at more than 150 miles per hour.
Researchers have found out that special cells called Glia in the brain transport nutrients to neurons and hold the neurons at their place.
NEW BRAIN WRINKLES DEVELOP WHILE WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Have you ever wondered what makes you smart? It is because of the wrinkles present in your brain. The top of the brain is convoluted by deep fissures; smaller grooves called Sulci and ridges called Gyri whose surface is the Cerebral Cortex where neurons are located. Because of this we are able to store so much of information which creates more wrinkles making us think intelligently. Since humans have a bigger size brain than animals, humans have more capacity to produce neurons which creates wrinkles indicating the limit how much humans can learn.
But the wrinkles with which we are born stays throughout our life keeping our brain healthy.